Sewing machine for kids?

[adventure_woman]

My daughter wants to learn how to sew and I want to get her her own sewing machine, what would you recommend? She is almost 8.

 

[stsomewhere]

Joanne Fabris offer kids sewing classes. you could sign her up for class before you buy her a machine.

 

[DizMe]

I got my daughter a small Janome. It's a great starter machine!

ETA: forgot to mention that was 12 years ago and she's still using it

 

[Iamthequeen]

Target sells the Singer Promise - its a great beginner machine and less than $100. I have one that I use when I travel and it works great.

 

[Burnedout]

The most basic brother runs about $80. While I like other brands too my brothers have been far less problematic.

Brother XL2610 Free-Arm Sewing Machine with 25 Built-In Stitches and 59 Stitch Functions
http://amzn.com/B000A5CKHG

I keep this one set up with black thread so that if I need it quickly I have it. Tbe other machines have white and colored threads.

 

[Colleen27]

My DD started on the same machine I did - a $150 Brother that my mom picked up at Walmart (like this one). Personally I think the digital/electronic machines are more beginner-friendly than traditional machines and versatile enough to last well past the beginner stage, well worth the relatively small cost premium compared to a bare-bones option.

 

[christineangel]

Janome makes a small portable machine that comes in fun colors for under $100. The nice thing is, it has a needle guard to protect little fingers. You can find it on amazon and I've also seen then in zulily. Usually around $60-70 but it varies.

 

[Burnedout]

My DD started on the same machine I did - a $150 Brother that my mom picked up at Walmart (like this one). Personally I think the digital/electronic machines are more beginner-friendly than traditional machines and versatile enough to last well past the beginner stage, well worth the relatively small cost premium compared to a bare-bones option.

That would be an even better choice. Frankly here are always reasons to have a machine around. Last week I fixed my sons book bag. Will get him through summer classes.

 

[andieb0602]

The one thing I've heard/read is that you don't want to buy a machine made specifically for kids. They frequently have problems and can become very frustrating, especially for a child. My 7 year old recently attended a birthday party at a place that teaches kids sewing and, ironically enough, they had the same machine that I have at home. Unfortunately this means she now knows how to work my machine.

 

[Iowajes]

I would have her take a class first, before buying a machine (unless you sew well).

I learned to sew in kids classes at a Bernina dealer, and thought the classes were phenomenal. (Did not buy a Bernina for 25 years after that...)

As a kid I had a Walmart Brother machine. It lasted 20 years with minimal problems and probably not great care. Of the current machines I like the CS6000i, but it is more in the $200 range, and you might want slightly fewer features.

Janome offers some excellent basic machines too.

I personally would not buy a Singer from Walmart. I have not had good experiences with the ones I have taught other people on.

Do not buy a "kids" machine from a big box store.

 

[adventure_woman]

Thank you everyone! My mom sews very well (and it has skipped a generation ) and will be teaching her. I am also going to sign her up for a couple classes at Jo-Ann's as well. She wants to be a fashion designer.

 

[whatname]

I got DD8 a Singer Promise from Target Christmas before last. Well, she was 7 then. It has worked well for her. It does your basics, even zig zag and some other things, but it is simple enough that she can use it. We have not had any problems with it. It is also a machine that she can use for years and years.

 

[NotUrsula]

Check Craigslist. You very well may be able to get a very nice machine for much less than retail, but be sure to have your mom bring some fabric/thread and test before you buy.

 

[Sandi]

If I were heading to K'zoo anytime soon, I'd drop off my old one for your DD. I just bought a new one a couple of weeks ago. My old Singer (that my folks bought me almost 30 years ago) still works fine, but I wanted a few more bells and whistles. I bought a new Singer at JoAnne's for what I thought was a very reasonable price. My old one is in a box, with the instruction manual, bobbins, and some other gadgets. I want to take it to Goodwill, but I'm not even sure they'll take it!

That sewing gene does skip generations. My grandmother sewed a lot; my mom, not so much, but was a decent basic sewer. My daughter cannot sew a seam to save her life! (And she is otherwise very capable and accomplished.)

 

[smokeyblue]

If I were heading to K'zoo anytime soon, I'd drop off my old one for your DD. I just bought a new one a couple of weeks ago. My old Singer (that my folks bought me almost 30 years ago) still works fine, but I wanted a few more bells and whistles. I bought a new Singer at JoAnne's for what I thought was a very reasonable price. My old one is in a box, with the instruction manual, bobbins, and some other gadgets. I want to take it to Goodwill, but I'm not even sure they'll take it!

That sewing gene does skip generations. My grandmother sewed a lot; my mom, not so much, but was a decent basic sewer. My daughter cannot sew a seam to save her life! (And she is otherwise very capable and accomplished.)

Any chance your old singer is mostly tan with a burnt orange stripe? I have my mom's Singer and there is a part that is missing that is driving me nuts! Looking all over for a replacement.

 

[smokeyblue]

If I were heading to K'zoo anytime soon, I'd drop off my old one for your DD. I just bought a new one a couple of weeks ago. My old Singer (that my folks bought me almost 30 years ago) still works fine, but I wanted a few more bells and whistles. I bought a new Singer at JoAnne's for what I thought was a very reasonable price. My old one is in a box, with the instruction manual, bobbins, and some other gadgets. I want to take it to Goodwill, but I'm not even sure they'll take it!

That sewing gene does skip generations. My grandmother sewed a lot; my mom, not so much, but was a decent basic sewer. My daughter cannot sew a seam to save her life! (And she is otherwise very capable and accomplished.)

Any chance your old singer is mostly tan with a burnt orange stripe? I have my mom's Singer and there is a part that is missing that is driving me nuts! I went to a sewing class and the person next to me must have accidently took the cover to my bobbin case. She never returned to class and no one knew who she was so there was nothing I could do. Looking all over for a replacement.

 

[Sandi]

Any chance your old singer is mostly tan with a burnt orange stripe? I have my mom's Singer and there is a part that is missing that is driving me nuts! I went to a sewing class and the person next to me must have accidently took the cover to my bobbin case. She never returned to class and no one knew who she was so there was nothing I could do. Looking all over for a replacement.

It is tan, but there is no orange stripe. My machine's bobbin cover also covers the feeder under the presser foot. I'm not sure how someone would walk off with that. My new machine has a compartment that holds bobbins and other "stuff," and I could see how that cover could get separated from the machine. If you want to pm a photo of your machine to me, I can compare and if it matches, I'll send it to you.

 

[jenniy122]

Sorry for the novel...

I have a bachelors degree in costuming, so I have some experience in this field. I've also been sewing for 20 years, on all sorts of machines. Do NOT buy a kiddie machine. I had one of those, it was miserable. If you have a small, locally run sewing machine repair shop near you (look in your yellowpages, it should be small and you've never noticed it), go there and they should be selling fixed up old machines (usually repairs that never got picked up). Pre-1985ish machines are of much higher quality than reasonably priced modern machines, because the insides are all metal, new ones are all plastic. Like I'd never suggest a new singer, but I'd also never use anything (until I'm rich and famous and can afford a pfaff) other than my gifted great-aunts 80s singer that's been with me all through college. For 5 years I used it nearly every day, and in the 7 years that I had it it's only been in the repair shop once (and that was yesterday, and due to me using wrong sewing technique, totally my fault, would've injured any machine). Even a fashion designer only needs straight and zig-zag stitches and that can do everything you need to do. And a zipper foot.

Other important things for sewing are a good iron and a dedicated pair of sewing scissors. I recommend rowenta irons (can get them at kohls on sale and with coupon, or qvc carries the mercedes benz fashion week model thats really nice), and for starting out any brand of sewing scissors will do (fiskers are fine), but if it seems after awhile that she's going to stick with it (AND ISN'T ACCIDENT PRONE) the gold standard of scissors is gingher. They're pricy but worth it.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

My sewing machine is an old 99.00 machine that I bought 10 or so years ago at Walmart. It still works perfectly for what I need. I'm not much of a sewer but I've been doing some costumes over the past couple of years.

I remember having to make a wrap around skirt for home ec class in the 1970's and did a horrible job. The teacher saw how hard I worked on it and I think that's the only reason why I got a passing grade. LOL

I taught my DD14 how to sew using that sewing machine. She made herself a jewelry roll for her necklaces when we travel using some old material I had and ribbon. She figured out how to do it herself.
It looks nice.